Wire-andrpiqket fence



(No Model.) v I'. A. WEIGHT.

WIRE AND PICKET FENCE.

N0. 552,558. PatentedJan. 7, 1896.

' 70M. ,A M2M y f` limiten STATES FRANKLIN A. WEIGHT, OF WALKER', PENNSYLVANIA.

Wl RE-ANDvrlPICKEiT, FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters. fatent No. 55.25558, dated January 7, 1896.`

Application filed June 15, 1894.

To @ZZ whom it may cancel/n.1

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN WEIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at lValker, in the county of Centre and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-and-Picket Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to wireand-picket fences, and the object thereof is to improve the same in certain details of construction, substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevation of a portion of a wireandpicket fence embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an elevation showing the standard with spools connected thereto, the ratchet upon the spools, and the spring-wire pawls engaging therewith; Fig. 3, a horizontal crosssection taken on line m of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showin-g the means employed to allow of compensation for the expansion and contraction of the fence-wire and also the means usedfor connecting the two ends of the fencewire together.

In the accompanying drawings, A B represent the two posts of a wire-and-picket fence, which posts are of the usual construction, and through these posts extend the horizontal fence-wires C. To the fence-wires C may be attached suitable pickets, either of wood or metal, and connected thereto in any wellknown and convenient manner. TWhen metal pickets are used, .as shown at D, the same are provided with clamping-fingers a, which are bent over the wires to hold the picket thereon. The upper and lower ends of the picket may be secured by short wires b to hold the pickets on the fence\vires against lateral displacement. Y

By the side of the fence-post B is located a suitable slotted standard F, and to this standard are connected a plurality of spools G of any desirable construction and in number to correspond with the number of the fence`n wires used, the ends of the wires being attached to the spools in the usual manner. The standard F has a longitudinal slot Z Se'ralNo. 514,7101 (No model.)

through which the fence-wires pass, and the standard has rightfangle flanges m, which iianges are parallel witheach other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. These iianges form bearings for the shafts c of the spools, and the projecting ends n of the shafts are flat-sided to receive a wrench, key or other tool by which the spools may be turned by rotating the shafts.

The spools Gare provided with ratchets d and with these ratchets engage suitable wire pawls E to prevent the spools revolving in an opposite direction to that intended.

To compensate for the contraction and expansion of the fence-wires caused by atmospheric changes, each fence-wire near the post B is divided, and to its ends are attached the means employed to allow of the contraction and expansion of the fence-wire throughout its length as well as to admit of the ends of the wires being disconnected when required.

The compensating device consists of a spiral spring H, one end thereof being suitably attached to the end of the fence-wire, and the opposite end of the spring bent to form a double hook I. The double hook I extends through acylindrical shield K, said shield encircling the double hook to protect it, and the hook engaging with a loop g upon the opposite end of the fence-wire. A staple-shaped key L passes through holes in the shield K, which holes are four in number, two upon each side of the shield, and are diametrically opposite each other. The shanks of the key L extend down through the holes in theshield K, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the shield preventing the double hook from expanding and becoming detached from the looped end of the fence-wire. Without the shield K the longitudinal or endwise strain upon the double loop would pull it out of shape, and as a consequence it would become detached from the loop g; but with the shield encircling the dou ble loop it is confined within certain limits and prevented from expanding. The employment of the shield K also provides means for keeping the keyin place and inshape. curved end or extremity of the double hook I, as shown at h, encircles the keyL and prevents the double hook from being pulled out of the shield K, the hook c' being that part which engages with the loop g. When the The IOO

fence-Wire is loosened it Will remove the strain on the double hook and alloysT said hook to be detached from the loop, the cylindrical shield being slipped over the spiral spring after the key has been Withdrawn from the shield. rlhe ends of the several fence-Wires being thus released by disengagin g the double hook from the loop, an opening in the fence maybe made of suiiicient size to allow persons on horseback or in vehicles to pass through.

l-Iaving noW fully described my invention, What I claim as. new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A Wire fence provided With a compensating device for the Wires, a double hook projecting from the device, a cylindrical shield encircling the double hook to prevent it from spreading, and a key to hold the shield in place, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A`Wire fence provided with means for tightening and loosening the Wires thereof, a compensating device consisting of a spiral spring, a double hook thereon Which engages With the looped end of the fence-Wire, a cylindrical shield encircling the double hook, and a key in the form of a staple extending through holes in the shield, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANKLIN A. VVElGI-IT.

Vitnesses: l

R. K. WILSON, W. L. SAYERS. 

